The inheritance of loss-what I liked and what I didn't like.

Quotable quote from the book: "Love must surely reside in the gap between desire and fulfillment, in the lack, not the contentment. Love is the ache, the anticipation the retreat, everything around it but the emotion itself."

What I did not like:

The use of defecation and things related to it for almost 4 to 5 times in the novel. I don't know what kind of pleasure the author was getting out of it. Is there a disease of this sort?

The language. Considering that it is an award winning novel, I expected to experience some stylistic joy of memorable prose. Her mom seems to be better on this front.

What I liked: The story, which she carries with authorial omniscience. The parts about the insurgency somewhat sounds like home though it is based in some other place.

Well, the story is about a retired lawyer basking in his past glory, his westernised grand- daughter Sai and her love interest with a poverty-striken local, their complications in negotiating their love for each other and opposing political principles and the judge's cook. If they are hapless, unwilling witnesses to the identity struggle in the hills between the immigrants and the settlers on one side, the cook's son Biju on the other side, goes to the US chasing the great American dream and eks out a miserable existence as an undocumented worker, stumbling from one low-paid restaurant to another. Desai captures his particular brand of bewilderment and loneliness with a rare empathy.

The full sense of the story comes only in the end but Desai does not give any easy answers to the problems. The story is quite poignant in some ways and her observations are quite cynical.

It is very much a readable book but I liked Rohinton Mistry(A fine balance) much better than her.

The Royal Bath

Been too busy at work and after the long hours, been too tired at home to even sit in front of the system. Off late, I have been planning my day while bathing. Was trying to give direction to my thoughts today. Too many things had to be done at work. Had to plan a speech for some function, had to co-ordinate with the vendors, the photographer and many things. I am not the event manager for this organization. No, I am not and certainly I also have to focus on doing what I was hired for, as that is the main bread and butter. Thus, went the thoughts and thus went the time and suddenly, I realised I am running late and still in the bathroom.

At supersonic speed, got dressed and then prayed, at supersonic speed again. God, the universal kick back had to adjust to my timings.

I was waiting for the traffic to slow down for me to cross the road and get in to an auto. Suddenly, I saw an empty auto at the other side of the road. The driver looked at me. I suddenly smile at him- a smile, which conveyed, “Oh dear, it doesn’t make sense waving and asking you to stop as I don’t know how long it is going to take to cross the road and I don’t know whether I’ll get another one so soon but I hope you know you are the need of the hour.” The auto passed and so did many vehicles. Finally, I managed to cross the road and there, I see him waiting for me patiently for the last 2 minutes. Somehow, he made my day and somehow, I got time to blog about it.

In the wings: Some test is coming up at the Organization level for some initiatives. I heard it would be on mathematical abilities, analytical, logical and some more …cal abilities. The only mathematical calculation I know is how much my salary would be if I get a hike of 20% and how much would it be if it were30%. Hope I pass.